Up front hepatectomy for metastatic rectal carcinoma - reversed, liver first approach. Early experience with 15...

Timing and sequence of therapeutic interventions in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and synchronous liver metastases is a matter of ongoing discussion. The aim of this report is to show the feasibility and safety of a reversed strategy in patients with up front resectable synchronous liver metastases. Consecutive series of 15 patients with locally advanced rectal carcinoma and liver synchronous metastases where up front liver resection was carried out as an initial intervention is presented. Local treatment of both, metastatic disease and primary tumor, was preferred. Liver resection was followed by neoadjuvant (preoperative) concomitant radiochemotherapy (RCT) for local pelvic disease control and subsequent resection of rectum. Systemic adjuvant chemotherapy was placed at the end of the entire treatment cycle. All 15 patients after up front hepatectomy were able to proceed with their treatment plan. 14 patients completed their RCT for primary tumor and subsequent rectal resection was successfully carried out. In 12 of them. 3 patients showed complete clinical response on cross sectional imaging and a careful "wait-and-see" policy was adopted for them. In two patients metastatic disease progression was noticed during the treatment cycle.Liver first approach in patients with up front resectable colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is safe and feasible. Local neoadjuvant treatment after CRLM resection may result in preoperative downsizing or even complete clinical response of the primary tumor. Reversed strategy may to a degree eliminate negative oncologic impact of surgical complications after rectal surgery as CRLM has been already addressed.